US6060862A - Rechargeable electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Rechargeable electronic apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US6060862A
US6060862A US09/051,646 US5164698A US6060862A US 6060862 A US6060862 A US 6060862A US 5164698 A US5164698 A US 5164698A US 6060862 A US6060862 A US 6060862A
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Prior art keywords
charging
voltage
electrical storage
detection
storage means
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US09/051,646
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English (en)
Inventor
Masahiro Sase
Kiyotaka Igarashi
Kenji Fujita
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Citizen Holdings Co Ltd
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Citizen Watch Co Ltd
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Assigned to CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD. reassignment CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FUJITA, KENJI, IGARASHI, KIYOTAKA, SASE, MASAHIRO
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C10/00—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces
    • G04C10/04—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces with means for indicating the condition of the power supply
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G19/00—Electric power supply circuits specially adapted for use in electronic time-pieces
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/0029—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with safety or protection devices or circuits
    • H02J7/0031—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with safety or protection devices or circuits using battery or load disconnect circuits
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/007—Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
    • H02J7/00712—Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
    • H02J7/00714—Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters in response to battery charging or discharging current

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus that displays the charging condition of an electrical storage means that is the power supply of a rechargeable electrical apparatus such as an electrical-generating type electronic watch.
  • FIG. 12 is a circuit block diagram of a electrical-generating electronic watch, which is an example of a rechargeable electronic apparatus in the past.
  • the reference numeral 1 denotes an overall control circuit, which outputs a sampling signal P1 that controls a voltage detection circuit 2 to be described later and a display control signal P6 that controls a display means 6;
  • 2 is a voltage detection circuit that detects the voltage of an electrical storage means 70 to be described later and which outputs a full-charge detection signal P20;
  • 3 is an electrical generating means, which in this case is a solar cell.
  • the reference numeral 4 denotes an overcharging prevention means, which is operated by a signal from the voltage detection circuit 2; 5 is a reverse-flow prevention means; and 6 is a display means which displays the time and the like.
  • the reference numeral 70 is a storage means which stores electrical power that is generated by the electrical generating means 3.
  • the overall control circuit 1 includes a watch circuit (not shown in the drawing), and outputs time information to the display means.
  • the display means 6 receives that information, and indicates the time and the like on an LCD or by means of indicating hands.
  • the overall control means 1 also outputs the sampling signal P1 to a charging voltage detection means 20 every hour, for example.
  • the overcharging voltage detection means 20 measures the voltage value of the storage means 70, and if the voltage value exceeds a prescribed voltage (for example 2.6 V), the full-charge detection signal P20 is output.
  • the overcharging prevention means 4 receives this full-charge detection signal 20 in response to which it turns on, thereby closing a switch, the result of which being that the electrical generating means 3 is shorted, so that electromotive power is not supplied to the electrical storage means 70.
  • the full-charge detection signal P20 is also output to the overall control circuit 1, which results in the overall control circuit 1 outputting the display control signal P6. At the display means 6, this display control signal P6 is received, and notification is made that the full-charge condition has been reached.
  • TL cells titanium-lithium ion secondary cells
  • This type of TL cell has a significantly greater capacity than even the large-capacitance capacitors used in the past, and as a result there has been a great increase in watch operating time of several months from the full charge condition.
  • a TL cell has charge-discharge characteristics such as shown in FIG. 13, so that it is difficult to gain a grasp of the stored electrical charge by merely measuring the battery voltage such as done in the past.
  • charge-discharge characteristics such as shown in FIG. 13, so that it is difficult to gain a grasp of the stored electrical charge by merely measuring the battery voltage such as done in the past.
  • the basic technological concept therein is that of opening the battery after the completion of discharging, however, and in an electronic apparatus such as an electronic watch, which is the target device of the present invention, it is not possible to place the power source in a completely open condition. That is, the present invention only cuts off the path between the electrical generating/charging device and the power source, so that the above-noted prior art cannot be applied thereto.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical-generating electronic apparatus such as a rechargeable electronic watch that enables easy detection of the charge capacity of the cell and easy verification of this by the user thereof so as to improve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional technologies, even when using a titanium-lithium ion secondary cell or other type of high-capacity secondary cell as an electrical storage means.
  • a more particular object of the present invention is to provide an electrical-generating electronic apparatus that is capable of notifying the user thereof of the full-charge condition of the above-noted electrical storage means.
  • the present invention has the following basic technical constitution. Specifically, it is provided with an electrical generation means, an electrical storage means which stores electromotive power from the electrical generation means, a reverse-flow prevention means which prevents reverse flow of a charging current to the electrical storage means, and a time display means having as its power supply an electrical storage means that is charged by the electrical generation means.
  • the rechargeable electronic watch further comprises, a charging condition detection means that, detects a charging condition of the electrical storage means, a charging cutoff means which is provided in a charging path between the electrical generation means and the electrical storage means, and a charging condition notification means which makes notification of the charging condition, based on a detection signal from the charging condition detection means, wherein during detection by the charging condition detection means of the charging condition of the electrical storage means during charging thereof, the charging cutoff means is caused to operate, thereby cutting off the charging.
  • the electrical storage means used which includes a titanium-lithium ion cell or the like, for the purpose of accurately judging output voltage of the electrical storage means or of accurately judging the residual capacity of the electrical storage means, the voltage value or current value of the electrical storage means at the present time is compared with a priorly established reference value, and when measuring the voltage value or current value a charging cutoff means that is provided between a prescribed power supply means or electrical generation means and the electrical storage means is caused to operate, to cut it off from the power supply means or electrical generation means.
  • the configuration of the present invention is such that, if the detected voltage or current corresponds to a priorly established prescribed value, the charging cutoff means is caused to operate.
  • Another aspect of a rechargeable electronic apparatus is configured so that the detected charging condition is not an arbitrary voltage value or current value, but rather is the full-charge condition.
  • a rechargeable electronic apparatus of this aspect of the present invention is a rechargeable electronic watch that is provided with an electrical generation means, an electrical storage means which stores electromotive power from the above-noted electrical storage means, a reverse-flow prevention means which prevents reverse flow of a charging current to the above-noted electrical storage means, a time display means having as a power source an electrical storage means that is charged by the above-noted electrical generation means.
  • This rechargeable electronic watch further having a full-charge detection means which detects whether or not the electrical storage means is in the full-charge condition, a charging cutoff means disposed in the charging path between the above-noted electrical generation means and the above-noted electrical storage means, and a full-charge notification means which makes notification, based on a detection signal of the above-noted full-charge detection means, that the full-charge condition has been reached, and during the detection by the above-noted full-charge detection means of the full-charge condition, the above-noted charging cutoff means is caused to operate, thereby cutting off the charging.
  • the above-noted full-charge detection means is formed by a voltage measurement section which measures the voltage value of the above-noted storage means and outputs voltage measurement data, and a voltage-drop detection section which, based on at least two voltage measurement data from the above-noted voltage measurement means, if the voltage drop value at a prescribed time is within an arbitrary reference voltage value, detects this as the full-charge condition, and outputs a full-charge detection signal.
  • a measurement starting time detection means which, when the voltage value of the above-noted electrical storage means, based on voltage measurement data from the above-noted voltage measurement section, is detected as being at or greater than the prescribed voltage value, outputs a full-charge measurement start signal for the purpose of controlling the start of the measurement of the full charge and, based on the full-charge measurement start signal from the above-noted measurement starting time detection means, the above-noted voltage-drop detection section starts to perform the detection operation.
  • an electromotive power measurement means which measures the electromotive power from the above-noted electrical generating means is provided and, based on the measured value of this electromotive force measurement means, the above-noted prescribed voltage value to which the voltage value of the above-noted electrical storage means in the measurement starting time detection means is compared, is switched.
  • an electromotive power measurement means which measures the electromotive power from the above-noted electrical generating means is provided and, based on the measured value of this electromotive force measurement means, the above-noted reference value, to which the voltage drop value of the above-noted voltage drop detection circuit is compared, is switched.
  • FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram which shows the first embodiment of a rechargeable electronic apparatus according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a flowchart which shows the operation of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart which shows the operation of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram which shows the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart which shows the operation of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart which shows the operation of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram which shows the third embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart which shows the operation of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a drawing which shows the self-discharging characteristics of a TL cell.
  • FIG. 10 is a drawing which shows the charging characteristics of a TL cell for varied illumination.
  • FIG. 11 is a drawing which shows the charging/discharging characteristics of a TL cell for varied illumination.
  • FIG. 12 is a circuit block diagram of the prior art.
  • FIG. 13 is a drawing which shows the discharging characteristics of a TL cell.
  • FIG. 14 is a block diagram which illustrates the configuration of one specific example of a charging condition detection means that is used in the first example of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram that shows the configuration of one example of a rechargeable electronic watch according to the present invention, in which is shown rechargeable electronic watch 100, which is shown as having an electrical generation means 3, a electrical storage means 7, which stores electromotive power from the electrical generation means 3, a reverse-flow prevention means 5, which prevents reverse flow of charging current to the above-noted electrical storage means 7, and an information display means 6, which includes a time display means having as a power supply the electrical storage means 7 that is charged based on the electrical generation means 3.
  • This rechargeable electronic watch 100 further has a charging condition detection means 30, which detects the charging condition of the above-noted electrical storage means 7, a charging cutoff means 9, which is provided in the charging path between the electrical generation means 3 and the electrical storage means 7, and a charging condition notification means 6 that, based on a detection signal of the charging condition detection means 30, makes notification of the charging condition of the rechargeable battery, the electronic watch being configured so that when the above-noted charging condition detection means 30 is detecting the charging condition of the rechargeable battery 7 during its charging, the charging cutoff means 9 is caused to operate, thereby cutting off the charging.
  • the charging condition with regard to the rechargeable electronic apparatus in this example is judged based on either the charging voltage value or the charging current value.
  • the charging condition detection means 30 can also be configured so as to detect the full-charged condition of the electrical storage means 7 and, by storing for example a number of set reference values into the memory means 23, which is shown in FIG. 14 and which will be described later, it is possible to detect not only the full-charged condition, but also the amount of residual capacity in the electrical storage means 7.
  • the above-noted example of the present invention is particularly effective with respect to a power supply the voltage of which, as shown in FIG. 13 varies non-linearly, with respect to which it is not possible to determine the residual capacity by merely measuring the voltage thereof.
  • the above-noted charging condition detection means 30 preferably has a configuration such as shown in FIG. 14, rather than that shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1.
  • the configuration of the charging condition detection means 30 in the present invention have a charging condition measurement means 22 which either measures the charging voltage of the electrical storage means 7 or detects the charging current to the rechargeable battery, and a memory means 23 in which are stored a plurality of levels of set reference voltage values or reference current values, a comparison means 2 which performs a comparison between a voltage value or reference current values of the electrical storage means that is measured by the charging condition measurement means with the corresponding reference value thereof that is stored in the memory means, and output means which outputs the results of this comparison by the comparison means 2.
  • the number of the plurality of prescribed mutually different reference voltage or current values that is stored in the memory means, and the interval therebetween, is arbitrary, and there is no particular limitation placed thereon, but it is desirable that these be established in accordance with the accuracy required of the charging condition detection of the electrical storage means for the rechargeable electronic watch.
  • the charging cutoff means 9 be configured so that, in response to the timing of execution of the detection of the charging condition of the electrical storage means 7, the charging path between the electrical generation means 3 and the electrical storage means 7 is cutoff.
  • FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of an embodiment of a rechargeable electronic watch having a full-charge display function, this representing the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • elements that are the same as the prior art which is shown in the circuit block diagram of FIG. 12 are assigned the same reference numerals and will not be explicitly described.
  • FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are flowcharts which show examples of the operation of the rechargeable electronic watch which is shown in FIG. 1.
  • the reference numeral 11 denotes an overall control circuit which includes an internal clock circuit and which performs such control as of full-charge detection
  • 7 is a titanium-lithium ion secondary cell (hereinafter abbreviated as TL cell)
  • 22 is a voltage measurement section
  • 30' is a full-charge detection means corresponding to the charging condition detection means 30 in the above-noted example, which includes a voltage measuring section 22 and a voltage drop detection section 8, each of these being disposed in parallel to the charging voltage detection section 20.
  • the above-noted full-charge detection means 30' further includes a comparator 2, which is a measurement starting time detection means.
  • the above-noted full-charge detection means 30' in the above-noted example include a function which detects an overcharging condition with respect to the electrical storage means 7, and it is also desirable that when the full-charge detection means 30' detects the overcharging condition of the electrical storage means 7, it causes, by means of an appropriate signal, the overcharging prevention means 4, which is disposed separately and in parallel to the electrical generating means 3, to operate, thereby stopping the charging operation.
  • the voltage measurement section 22 based on the sampling timing of the voltage measurement sampling signal P11 generated from the the overall control means 1, which controls the timing of voltage measurement, measures the voltage across the terminals of the TL cell 7, and outputs the voltage measurement data signal P22 to the above-noted comparator 2 which, in the case in which the measured voltage value is larger than the reference voltage value of 1.4 V, outputs a one-shot full-charge measurement start signal P2.
  • the voltage measurement section 22 also outputs the detection voltage data signal P22 with regard to the TL cell 7, which was detected at the time of the full-charge measurement, to the above-noted voltage drop detection section 8.
  • the voltage drop detection section 8 based on the full-charge measurement start signal P2 from the comparator, starts measurement of the full-charge and, based on the input data of the voltage measurement data signal P22 from the voltage measurement section 22, a judgment is made as to whether or not the TL cell is at full charge.
  • the voltage drop detection section 8 If it detected as being at full charge, the voltage drop detection section 8 outputs the full-charge detection signal P8, but if it is not in the full charge condition, it outputs the not-full charge detection signal P88.
  • the overall control means 11 based on the full-charge measurement start signal P2 from the comparator 2, outputs the cutoff control signal P12 to the charging cutoff means 9, which is disposed in series with the reverse-flow prevention means 5 and, if the full-charge detection signal P8 from the voltage drop detection section 8 was input, it outputs control signal P6 with respect to the display means 6 which includes a full-charge notification means, so as to display notification of the full charge.
  • the overall control means 11 outputs a control signal to the display means 6 so as to cancel the full-charge display.
  • FIG. 2 is the main flowchart
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart which shows the full-charge measurement subroutine of step 6 (steps to be designated with a prefix of S hereinafter) in FIG. 2.
  • step S1 the time reference counter within the overall control means 11 is used to judge whether the time is at a precise second. If the result is NO, the process returns is to the previous step S1, and if the result is YES, the "increment by 1 second" causes a 1-second increment signal to be output from the overall control means 11s, causing the time display of the display means 6 to advance by 1 second.
  • step S3 the time reference counter within the overall control means 11 is used to perform a judgment of whether the time is at the 10 minute, 20 minute, 30 minute, 40 minute, 50 minute or precise hour position.
  • step S3 if the result is NO, return is made again to step S1, but if the result is YES the "voltage measurement sampling" at step S4 causes measurement of the voltage across the terminals of the TL cell 7 by the voltage measurement section 22, based on the sampling timing of the voltage measurement sampling timing signal P11 from the overall control means 11, which controls the timing of the voltage measurement at a 10-minute period.
  • the voltage measurement sampling signal P11 is a 10-minute period voltage measurement sampling signal unless the full-charge condition is in effect.
  • step S5 if the measured voltage Vt1 is compared with a reference voltage of, for example, 1.4 V, which represents the full-charge condition, and a judgment is made as to whether or not the measured voltage VT1 is larger than this reference voltage value of 1.4 V.
  • reference voltage value that represents the full-charge condition there is no limitation of the reference voltage value that represents the full-charge condition to a single value, and it is possible to set a plurality of reference voltage values.
  • step S5 if the result is NO, the process returns again to step S1, but if the result is YES, the full-charge measurement start signal P2 is output from the comparator 2, and control proceeds to the full-charge measurement at step S6.
  • step S7 the voltage measurement section 22 measures the voltage across the terminals of the TL cell 7, based on the sampling timing of the voltage measurement sampling signal P11, from the overall control means 11, which controls the timing of voltage measurement, and supplies the resulting voltage measurement data signal P22 to the voltage drop detection section 8, this being accepted by the voltage drop measurement section 8 as V1.
  • step S8 the overall control means 11, based on the full-charge measurement start signal output from the comparator 2, outputs the cutoff control signal P12 to the charging cutoff means 9 as a high level (controlling the cutoff to be on), thereby cutting of the charging to the TL cell 7 from the electrical generation means 3.
  • step S9 the timer is started, which is the starting of a 1-minute timer that is included within the overall control means 11.
  • step S10 a judgment is made as to whether or not the 1 minute timer time has been reached.
  • the voltage measurement section 22 based on the sampling timing of the voltage measurement sampling signal P11 from the overall control means 11, which controls the timing of voltage measurement, measures the voltage across the terminals of the cell 7, and supplies the resulting voltage measurement data signal P22 to the voltage drop detection section 8, which accepts this as V2.
  • step S12 the calculation of V1-V2 is performed at the voltage drop detection section 8, which had accepted the voltage measurement data V1 and V2, the voltage difference between the two being accepted by the voltage drop detection section 8 as A.
  • step S13 a judgment is made as to whether or not A is smaller than (or within) the constant X(v) (this constant X(v) being dependent upon the characteristics of the cell 7 which is used as a secondary cell).
  • step S13 if the result is YES, control proceeds to step S14, the full-charge display, at which the full-charge condition is detected by the voltage drop detection section 8, which outputs a full-charge detection signal P8, based on which a control signal is output to the display means 6 by the overall control means 11 so as to display the full-charge condition on the display means 6.
  • the principle of the detection the charging condition is that if after the cell 7 reaches 1.4 V further charging is done the voltage of the cell 7 drops, as indicated by the characteristics shown in FIG. 13.
  • the voltage drop characteristics for the case of the full charge condition exhibit less voltage drop.
  • the difference in these characteristics is used in making the judgment of the full-charge detection.
  • the voltage drop detection section 8 detects that the condition is not the full-charged condition, and outputs the not-full charge detection signal P88, based upon which the overall control means 11 outputs a control signal to the display means 6 so that the full-charge display is canceled, thereby canceling the full-charge display on the display means 6.
  • step S16 the charging cutoff is switched off and, based on the full-charge detection signal P8 or the not-full charge detection signal P88 output from the voltage drop detection section 8, the shutoff control signal P12 with respect to the charging shutoff means 9 from the overall control means 11 changes to low level (shutoff off control), which restarts the charging of the cell 7 from the electrical generation means 3.
  • the return point on the main flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is the point after the full charge measurement at step S6, that is, the point before the branch at which a determination is made at step S1 of whether the time is a precise second, after which the operation described above is repeated.
  • FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of a rechargeable electronic watch embodiment with a full-charge display function which is presented as the third embodiment of the present invention.
  • the elements in the block diagram of FIG. 7 those that are the same as corresponding elements in the second embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 4, have been assigned the same reference numerals and will not be explicitly described.
  • FIG. 5 through FIG. 6 are flowcharts which show an example of the operation of the rechargeable electronic watch that is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4.
  • this embodiment is provided with a charging current measurement circuit 10 (in the case in which the electrical generation means 3 is a solar cell, a means for detecting the illumination intensity with respect to the solar cell), a measurement being performed of whether the charging current is small, medium, or large, so as to perform better detection of the full-charge condition.
  • a charging current measurement circuit 10 in the case in which the electrical generation means 3 is a solar cell, a means for detecting the illumination intensity with respect to the solar cell
  • a measurement being performed of whether the charging current is small, medium, or large, so as to perform better detection of the full-charge condition.
  • the charging current measurement means 10 is disposed in series with the electrical generation means 3 and the overcharging prevention means 4.
  • the charging current measurement circuit 10 based on the sampling timing of the current detection sampling signal P13 from the overall control means 11 which controls the timing of the charging current measurement, performs a measurement of the charging current to determine whether the charging current from the electrical generation means 3 is large (greater than 1 mA), medium (larger than 0.1 mA but not exceeding 1 mA), or small (0.1 mA or smaller), and outputs the charging current amount from the electrical generation means 3 as a charging current information signal P10 to the comparator 2.
  • the electrical generation means 3 is a solar cell, as shown in FIG. 11 when the illumination intensity is high (when the charging current is larger than 1 mA) the cell 7 charging characteristics exhibit a rise of the charging voltage to 2.3 V, in the case of medium illumination (when the charging current is larger than 0.1 mA but not exceeding 1 mA) the voltage rises to 1.8 V, and in the case of low illumination (when the charging current is 0.1 mA or smaller), the voltage rises to only approximately 1.4 V.
  • FIG. 5 is the main flowchart
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart that shows the subroutine for measuring the charging current at step S33 of FIG. 5.
  • step S3 the time reference counter within the overall control means 11 is used to perform a judgment of whether the time is at the 10 minute, 20 minute, 30 minute, 40 minute, 50 minute or precise hour position.
  • step S3 if the result is YES, a transfer of control is made to the charging current information detection of step S33.
  • the charging current information detection at step S33 will be described with reference made to the charging current information detection subroutine of step S33 that is shown in FIG. 6.
  • the charging current measurement circuit 10 measures the charging current, Ich, from the electrical generation means 3, so as to measure whether the charging current from the electrical generation means 3 is large (greater than 1 mA), medium (larger than 0.1 mA but not exceeding 1 mA), or small (0.1 mA or smaller).
  • step S4 at the voltage measurement sampling of step S4, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, measurement is performed of the voltage across the terminals of the cell 7. Then, at "Vt1>V0" of the subsequent step S55 a judgment is performed of whether or not the measured voltage value is greater than V0.
  • step S55 If at the branching of step S55 the result is NO, return is made to the point before step S1, but if the result is YES the full-charge measurement start signal P2 is output from the comparator 2 and transfer is made to the full charge measurement.
  • V0 Vth voltage value to be added during charging
  • FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of a rechargeable electronic watch having a full charge display function, presented as the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • elements which are the same as corresponding elements in the third embodiment that is shown in FIG. 4 are assigned the same reference numerals and will not be explicitly described.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart that shows an example of the operating procedure of the rechargeable electronic watch that is show in the block diagram of FIG. 7.
  • the fourth embodiment of FIG. 7 is provided with a charging current measurement circuit 10 (in the case in which the electrical generation means 3 is a solar cell, a means for detecting the illumination intensity with respect to the solar cell), a measurement being performed of whether the charging current is small, medium, or large, the resulting charging current measurement information being supplied as the charging current information signal P10 as well to the voltage drop detection section 80, which serves as a full-charge detection means, thereby perform better detection of the full charge.
  • a charging current measurement circuit 10 in the case in which the electrical generation means 3 is a solar cell, a means for detecting the illumination intensity with respect to the solar cell
  • the charging current measurement circuit 10 based on the sampling timing of the current detection sampling signal P13 from the overall control means 11, which controls the timing of charging current measurement, measures whether the charging current from the electrical generation means 3 is large (greater than 1 mA), medium (larger than 0.1 mA but not exceeding 1 mA), or small (0.1 mA or smaller), and outputs the charging current amount from the electrical generation means 3 as a charging current information signal P10 to the comparator 2, and the charging current information signal P10 is output as well to the voltage drop detection section 80.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart which shows the full charge measurement subroutine of step S6 in FIG. 5.
  • step S67 In the flowchart of FIG. 8, after steps S7 and S8, which are similar to steps S7 and S8 of FIG. 3, transfer is made to step S67.
  • step S69 a judgment is made as to whether or not V0 is equal to 1.8 V.
  • step S66 the B value in "A ⁇ B" of step S31 (corresponding to the A ⁇ Vx of step S13 in FIG. 3) is switched in accordance with the amount of current when charging the cell 7, thereby performing a better transfer to the full charge measurement of step S66.
  • the principle of this full charge detection is based on the voltage characteristics of the cell 7, which are shown in FIGS. 9 through 11 and FIG. 13.
  • the voltage drop characteristics exhibit the largest voltage drop after charging with high illumination, lower voltage drop after charging with medium illumination, and the smallest voltage drop after charging with low illumination, and the judgment of transfer to the "full charge measurement" at step S6 is switched appropriately based on these characteristics.
  • a voltage drop detection section 8 (voltage drop detection section 80) which detects the voltage drop after supply of electrical power from the electrical generation means 3 is cut off by the charging cutoff means 9, even in the case of using an electrical storage means having characteristics such at those of a cell (titanium-lithium ion cell) 7, it is possible to detect the charging condition of the electrical storage means at any arbitrary time, thereby particularly enabling detection and display of the full charge condition of the electrical storage means.
  • a charging current measurement circuit 10 which is an electromotive force measurement means that measures the electromotive force of the electrical generation means 3, and by detecting by means of the output value therefrom the voltage value or voltage drop value of the electrical generation means 3 which is operated by the voltage drop detection section 8 (voltage detection section 80), it is possible to accurately display the full charge condition, without regard to the value of the electromotive force from the electrical generation means.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
  • Tests Of Electric Status Of Batteries (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US09/051,646 1996-08-21 1997-08-21 Rechargeable electronic apparatus Expired - Fee Related US6060862A (en)

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JP21898896A JP3628123B2 (ja) 1996-08-21 1996-08-21 充電式電子時計
PCT/JP1997/002903 WO1998008146A1 (fr) 1996-08-21 1997-08-21 Dispositif electronique rechargeable

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US20030146736A1 (en) * 2000-08-11 2003-08-07 Tsukasa Kosuda Electronic apparatus and method of controlling the electronic apparatus
US20070080661A1 (en) * 2005-10-12 2007-04-12 Sony Corporation Battery device
US20070296421A1 (en) * 2006-06-07 2007-12-27 Nec Electronics Corporation Voltage drop measurement circuit
US20090273481A1 (en) * 2008-01-15 2009-11-05 John Traywick Solar-Charged Power Source
US20110181233A1 (en) * 2010-01-28 2011-07-28 Takayuki Mino Solar cell power supply device and rechargeable battery solar charging method
US20120293121A1 (en) * 2011-05-16 2012-11-22 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Full charge control apparatus for onboard battery
US20130307485A1 (en) * 2012-05-15 2013-11-21 Xiang-Ming He Cycling method for sulfur composite lithium ion battery

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JP3601376B2 (ja) * 1998-12-14 2004-12-15 セイコーエプソン株式会社 電子機器及び電子機器の制御方法
JP2008228391A (ja) * 2007-03-09 2008-09-25 Sony Corp 携帯端末
WO2009147980A1 (ja) 2008-06-04 2009-12-10 財団法人化学及血清療法研究所 不活化日本脳炎ウイルス粒子をアジュバントとして使用する方法

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US6404167B1 (en) * 1999-11-10 2002-06-11 Makita Corporation Battery charging device
US7265520B2 (en) * 2000-08-11 2007-09-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Electronic apparatus and method of controlling the electronic apparatus
US20030146736A1 (en) * 2000-08-11 2003-08-07 Tsukasa Kosuda Electronic apparatus and method of controlling the electronic apparatus
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US20120293121A1 (en) * 2011-05-16 2012-11-22 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Full charge control apparatus for onboard battery
US8698453B2 (en) * 2011-05-16 2014-04-15 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Full charge control apparatus for onboard battery
US20130307485A1 (en) * 2012-05-15 2013-11-21 Xiang-Ming He Cycling method for sulfur composite lithium ion battery
US9450234B2 (en) * 2012-05-15 2016-09-20 Tsinghua University Voltage cycling method for lithium ion battery comprising sulfur polymer composite in active material

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JP3628123B2 (ja) 2005-03-09
JPH1062571A (ja) 1998-03-06
EP0862099B1 (en) 2007-08-15
EP0862099A4 (en) 2000-02-23
EP0862099A1 (en) 1998-09-02
WO1998008146A1 (fr) 1998-02-26
DE69738014D1 (de) 2007-09-27
DE69738014T2 (de) 2008-05-15
ES2292194T3 (es) 2008-03-01

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